Catch construction for cases



c. FYFE CATCH CONSTRUCTION FOR CASES Sept; 1l, 1951 FiledA Ang. 15, 1947v 5 Sheets-Sheetl 1 fly.

Sept. 11., 1951 C, FYFE 2,567,881

CATCH CONSTRUCTION FOR CASES Filed Aug. 15. 194'? 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept 11, 1951 c. FYFE CATCH CONSTRUCTION FOR CASES 3 sheets-sheet s Filed Aug. 15, 1947 fizzal.

Patented Sept. 11, 1951 CATCH CONSTRUCTION FOR CASES Clayton Fyfe, Elgin, Ill.,a'ssignor to Illinois Watch Case Co., a corporation of Illinois ApplicationAugust 15, 1947, Serial No. 768,748

This invention relates toa catch construction for holding a closure member latched to Va body member, and relates particularly to a catch construction including a catch member and a spring means.

In certain objects having a body member and a closure member it is customary to provide a spring urged catch member engageable with a latch member to hold the closure member in closed position against the body member. rihis construction is used on compacts, cigarette cases and other containers'. 'As these containers are frequently small, the parts that comprise the catch construction will be very tiny. This adds to the difficulty of assemblmg the parts and mak.- ing them strong enough to withstand the ordinary wear of everyday use. It also adds to the cost of the objects as a considerable amount of labor is involved yin assembling the catch parts.

Frequently the catch member was mounted on a spring and attached thereto and the spring was attached to a portion of the container by a small rivet or the like. The assembly of these various parts involved considerable labor. The present invention is concerned with an improved catch construction wherein a catch member is removably associated with a spring means being arrange-d to bear against a portionl of the container to urge the catch member to a closed position and also to hold the parts of the catch in their assembled relationship. With this construction, the catch is simple to assemble and requires nd permanent fastening devices such as rivets or the like.

One of the features of the present invention is the provision of an improved catch construction for holding a closure member latched to a body member; another feature of this invention is the provision of such a catch construction including a spring means with a catch member removably associated therewith and with the spring serving to hold the catch member and spring in assembled relationship and also to urge the catch member toward its closed position; a further feature of this invention is the provision of such an assembly wherein the catch member is held in an opening in one portion of thecontainer and is rockable about a section of the container adjacent the opening with thespring means serving toy urge the catch member into engagement with a latch member, maintain the spring means in engagement with the catch member and retain the catch member in its opening; a still further feature of the invention is the provision of improved means for positively locking the spring 7 Claims. (Cl. 292-128) 2 means and the catch member together so as to prevent their accidentally becoming disassembled. Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in' the following description and claims when considered in` con- Jyiinction with the embodiments shown in the accompanyng drawings. Of the drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan View of a cigarette case, or the like, in opened position and including a catch construction made according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the cigarette rcase of Fig. 1; Fig.V 3 is a fragmentary section, partially broken away, taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 4; Fig. e is a fragmentary section taken along line li-i of Fig. 6; Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevation showing the case in closed position and illustrating the outer' portion of the catch construction; Fig. 6 is an. enlarged fragmentary section through the closed cigarette case and showing the catch construction in section; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a catch construction showing a second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevation of the catch construction of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation showing the opening in the case through which the catch member is adapted to be inserted; Fig. 10 is a fragmentary venlarged section similar to Fig. 6 but illustrating the second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 11 is aperspective View of the catch member of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 'l to 10, inclusive; Fig. 12 is aperspective view of a catch member similar to that illustrated inA the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive but having a finger-engageable portion of a type different from that shown in said iigures; Fig. 13 is a view similar to Figs. 6 to 10, but showing another embodiment of the invention; Fig. 14 is a fragmentary section taken along line lll-li of Fig; 13; Fig. 15 is a fragmentary section taken along line l5l5 of Fig. 13; and Fig. 16 is a fragmentary section taken along line [l5-i8 of Fig. 13;

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 6, in-

' clusive, the catch construction is applied to a cigarette case. rIhis cigarette case comprises a body member or botto-m 2i) and a closure member or top 2l with the two members being hinged together by means of a hinge 22. The top is shown in closed position by dotted lines in Fig. 2. The bottom 2li and top 2l are urge-d toward open position by means of a coil spring 23 located around a hinge pin 24 and having one end 23a bearing against the inner surface of the'bottom' 20 and another end 23h bearing against the inner surface of the top 2 I.

The bottom 20 of the cigarette case is provided with a catch near its outer edge with the catch being adapted to engage a latch member 25 on the top 2| of the case. The latch member 25 is in the form of an inwardly directed lip which is made integral with the top 2| of the case.

The catch comprises a catch member 26 and a spring 21 removably associated together. The catch member 26 is insertable through a slot 20a provided in the bottom 2l) of the cigarette case. This slot is located near the front edge of the bottom 20 and has a top portion 26h narrower than its bottom portion. The catch member 26 comprises a shank portion 26a adapted to be inserted through and held within the slot 26a, a catch portion 26h adapted to engage the lio 25 and a nger-engageable portion 26e adapted to be located on the outside of the case as shown in Fig. 6 and to be rockable about the section of the case adjacent the opening 26a.

The shank 26a of the catch member 26 is provided with a slot 26d therein having a narrow upper part 26e.

The spring 21 comprises a bow portion 21a having ends 21h and 21e curved to bear against the inner surface of the bottom 20 of the cigarette case. The spring 21 also includes a pair of spring projections 21d arranged in spaced-apart relationship and a central interlocking portion 21e located between the projections 21d. The interlocking portion 21e is in the form of a T so that the top 21]c thereof is wider than the remainder of theinterlocking portion. The projections 21d are adapted to bear against the back of the shank 26a of the catch member 26 as shown on Fig. 6. The interlocking portion 21e of the spring is adapted to be inserted through the slot 26d and moved upwardly to the narrow upper part 26e of the slot. The top 21j of the interlocking portion 21e will then bear against this narrow upper part to hold the spring 21 and catch member 26 in its assembled relationship. The projections 21d serve as bearing surfaces contacting the shank 26a, and in the locked position confine the shank between their surfaces 21d and the proliections 21j; the interlocking portion 21e being held against the top of the slot 26e, with the surfaces 21d, 21e and 21f of the member 21 being held in contact by Virtue of the moment exerted by the member 21 against the case 20 at the ends 21h of said member.

'I'he spring 21 is initially made as a flat stamping. The ends 21h and 21e are then formed. as shown, and the spring projections 21d are bent upwardly. The interlocking portion 21e is bent slightly downwardly, as is shown in Fig. 6. In assembling the unit, the shank 26a of the catch member 26 is inserted through the slot 20a in the bottom 20 of the cigarette case and the catch member is arranged in the position it is to occupy in the nished catch. The interlocking portion 21e of the spring 21 is then inserted through the slot 26d and moved upwardly to the top of the slot. In this position the top 21f of the interlocking portion is retained behind the narrow upper part 26e of the slot 26d. As the ends 21o and 21,0 of the spring bear against the bottom 20 of the case, the tension in the spring serves to hold the parts in assembled relationship and to urge the catch portion 26h of the catch member 26 into engagement with the lip 25. The iingerengageable portion 26C of the catch member, being rockable about the portion of the case adjacent the slot 20a, may be moved toward the case to force the catch portion 2Gb away from the lip 25 and against the pressure of the spring and thereby permit the coil spring 23 to force the case open. In the open position of the catch, ends 2lb serve as stops to limit the extreme position of catch member 26 by contact with the slot 20a. The case may be closed by merely bringing the bottom 2D and top 2| of the case together. When this is done, the catch member 26 automatically engages the lip 25 as the top of the catch portion 26h is provided with a cam surface 26j which is engaged by the bottom of the lip 25 to force the catch member back against the urging cf the spring 21.

In order to aid in rocking the catch member and to make this rocking action smoother in operation, the inner surface of the nger-engageable portion 26o of the catch member may be provided, if desired, with a hump 26g that is located adjacent the slot 20a. This hump is formed by making the nger-en-gageable portion 25e in two diierent planes, as is shown in Fig. 6. This hump, however, is not necessary and any other type of construction may, of course, be used such as by merely making the iinger-engageable portion 26c longer than the shank 26a.

The spring 21 serves to urge the interlocking portion 21e of the spring to the top of the slot 26d in the catch member 26 and thus hold the spring and the catch member in assembled relationship. The catch member is made rockable by having the angle between the shank 26a. and the fingerengageable portion 26e greater than the angle between the shank 26a and the adjacent portion of the bottom 20 of the case when the catch member is in closed position.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 7 to 10, inclusive, the catch member |26 is provided with a shank |26a insertable through a slot |20a in the bottom |20 of the cigarette case, a catch portion |2619 and a iingerengageab1e portion |26c. The lateral sides of the shank portion |2611. are each provided with a slot |267'. A spring |21 is provided having a bow portion |21a, curved ends |2117 and an interlocking portion |21e. The lateral sides of the interlocking portion |216 are provided with extensions |2111.. 'I'hese extensions are adapted to be bent around so as to lie within the slots 26g' and with the ends of the extensions bearing against the shank |26a of the catch member |26 as shown in Fig. 7. This serves to hold the catch member |26 and spring |21 in assembled relationship. The operation of the catch construction is the same as that previously described for the embodiment Shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive. The spring |21 urges the catch portion |2619` into engagement with the lip |25 on the top |2| of the case, as is shown in Fig. 10.

In Fig. 12 there is shown a catch member 226 having a shank portion 2260. similar to the shank portion of the catch member shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive. This shank portion 226e is provided with a slot 22611 having a narrow top part 226e and a catch portion 226b. This catch member diiers from that shown in Figs. l to 6, however, in that the nger-engageable portion 226e is constructed in a single plane, instead of being provided with a hump as is shown at 26g.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 13 to 16, inclusive, the catch member 326 has the catch portion 326@ thereof provided with an inclined relatively long slot 3261i and a shorter slot 326e with the shorter slot 326e being arrangedlongitudinally of the catch portion 3260 and the two slots merging'into each other as isf'be'st shown in Fig. 15. The two slots 32607, and` 32eare-arranged so as to, form an X with the result that'the lower right corner and the upper left lcorner-lof'the shorter slot 326e extends from the: sides of the longer slot as viewed in Fig. 15. t

The spring 32'? is similar to that previously shown in Figs. 1 to 5 and is provided with a bow portionY and an ,interlocking portion 321e. The interlocking portion 321'@ is inthe form of a T so that the top SfV thereof is wider than the remainder of the interlocking portion. The spring 321 is also provided with projections 32'Id that are adapted to bear against .the back of the shank 326e of the catch member 325, as is shown inr greater detail in Figs. 13 and 16.

In assembling the spring 32,1 andthe catch member the spring is turned relative to the catch member so that the wide portion 32H of the interlocking portion 327e of the Spring may be inserted through the long inclined slot 32611, After this insertion. the spring maybe turned back so that the interlocking portion 321e is held within the shorter slot 32de, as is best shown in Fig. 15. The pressure ofthe spring against the bottom of the case will then-hold the spring and the catch member in assembled relationship. v In this assembled relationship it is-practically impossible to disassemble the spring and the catch member without the use of special tools. construction is very useful it prevents accidental disassembling of the catch such as would occur if the spring in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 6 were depressed in the area adjacent its center section. It is to be understood, however, that during ordinary use, the embodiment shown in Figs. l to 6 will remain in its assembled relationship as shown in these figures.

Having described my invention as related to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, it is my intention that the invention be not limited by any of the details of description unless otherwise specified, but rather lbe construed broadly within its spirit and scope as set out in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

l. A catch construction for holding a closure member latched to a body member, comprising: a catch member insertable through an opening in one of said members and including afnger-engageable portion adapted to be located on the outside or said one member and a catch portion adapted to be located on the inside of said one member, catch member having said portions thereof rockable about the portion of said one member adjacent said opening; a latch member on the other member and engageable by said catch member; and spring means removably associated with said catch member and urging the catch member toward the latch member for engagement therewith, said spring means including a portion insertable through an opening provided in said catch member and rernovabh7 retained therein.

2. A catch construction for holding a closure member latched to a body member, comprising: a catch member insertable through an opening in one of said members and including a linger-engageable portion adapted to be located on the outside of said one member and a catch portion adapted to be located `on the inside of said one member, said catch member having said portions thereof rockable about the portion of said one member adjacent said opening; a latch member on the other member and engageable by said This catch member; and spring meansrernovably" associated with said catch portion and bearing against an inner surface of said one member for urging the catch portion toward the latch member for engagement therewith, said spring means including a portion insertable through an opening provided in said catch member and removably retained therein.

3. A catch construction for holding a closure member latched to a body member, comprising: a catch member insertable through an opening in one of said members and including a ringerengageable portion adapted to be located on the outside of said one member and a catch portion adapted to be located on the inside of said one member, said catch portion having an opening therein with the top part of said opening reduced, and said catch member being rockable about a part of said one member adjacent said opening therein; a latch member on the other side of said closure and body members and engageable by said catch portion; and spring means having a portion insertable through said opening in said catch portion and retained in said reduced vpart of the opening with said spring means bearing against the inner surface of said one member to urge the catch portion into engagement with the latch member, maintain the spring means in cngagement with the catch portion, and retain the catch member in its opening.

4. A catch construction for holding a closure member latched to a body member, comprising: a catch member insertable through an opening in one of said members and including a fingerengageable portion adapted to be located on the outside of said one member and a catch portion adapted to be located on the inside of said one member with said portions being arranged at an acute angle with respect to each other, said catch portion having an opening therein with the top part of said 'opening reduced, and said catch member being rockable about a part of said one member adjacent said opening therein; a latch member on the other of said closure and body members and engageable by said catch portion; and spring means having a portion insertable through said opening in said catch portion and `retained in said reduced part of the opening with said spring means bearing against the inner surface of said one member to urge the catch portion into engagement with the latch member, maintain the spring means in engagement with the catch portion, and maintain the catch member with said angle between said portion thereof against an edge of the lopening in said one member.

5. A catch construction for holding a closure member latched to a body member, comprising: a catch member insertable through an opening in one of said members and including a ngerengageable portion adapted to be located on the outside of said one member and a catch portion adapted to be located on the inside of said one member with said portions being arranged at an acute angle with respect to each other, said catch member being rockable about a part of said one member adjacent said opening therein; a latch member on the other of said closure and body members and engageable by said catch portion; and spring means having a portion embracing a part of said catch portion and another portion bearing against the inner surface of said one member to urge the catch portion into engagement with the latch member and maintain the catch member with said angle between said portion thereof against one .edge of the opening in said one member.

6. A catch construction for holding a closure member latched to a body member, comprising: a catch member insertable through an opening in one of said members and including a ngerengageable portion adapted to be located on the outside of said one member and a catch portion adapted to be located on the inside of said one member, said catch member having said portions thereof rockable about the portion of said one member adjacent said opening; a latch member on the other member and engageable by said catch member; and spring means removably vassociated with said catch member and urging the catch member toward the latch member for engagement therewith, said spring means including a portion insertable through an inclined opening provided in said catch member and then being movable to a position where the longitudinal axes of the spring means and the catch member are substantially parallel, and said spring means including a portion adapted to abut against the catch member and hold the spring means and catch member in the thusly assembled relationship.

7. A catch construction for holding a closure member latched to a body member, comprising; a catch member insertable through an opening in one of said members and including a fingerengageable portion adapted to be located on the outside of said one member and a catch portion adapted to be located on the inside of said one member with said portions being arranged at an acute angle with respect to each other, said catch portion having an opening therein with one portion thereof being inclined and another portion level, and with the inclined portion being v larger than the level portion, and said catch member being rockable about a part of said one member adjacent said opening therein; a latch member on the other of said closure and body members and engageable by said catch portion; and spring means having a portion insertable through said inclined portion of the opening in said catch portion and retained in said level portion of the opening with said spring means bearing against the inner surface of said one member to urge the catch portion into engagement with the latch member, maintain the spring means in engagement with the catch portion, and maintain the catch member with said angle between said portions thereof against an edge of the opening in said one member.

CLAYTON FYFE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

